Stalemate at St James'

West Ham United kept their second clean sheet in succession as they collected a useful point at Newcastle United on Saturday.

Genuine chances were few and far between on a wet afternoon on Tyneside as the Hammers kept their hosts at arm's length.

Their best effort came right at the death as Sammy Ameobi's attempted cross came back off a post and Yoan Gouffran knocked over the top, but had that gone in it would have been very harsh on Sam Allardyce's men.

Newcastle, fresh from their 4-0 hammering at Manchester City on Monday, were clearly happy to keep it tight in the opening stages and the first half was a cagey affair.

With seven minutes on the clock Newcastle won a free kick 25 yards from goal and Hatem Ben Arfa opted to take the shot on, but he could not keep his effort down.

Off-target Magpies shooting was a feature of the afternoon's play - Newcastle had eleven efforts before the break, but all were from range and all failed to trouble Jussi Jaaskelainen.

The closest Newcastle came before half time actually came from a Hammers foot as Winston Reid intercepted a Ben Arfa pass intended for Papiss Cisse and only just missed Jaaskelainen's far post.

Reid was also involved at the other end on 27 minutes, beating Tim Krul to Modibo Maiga's knockdown following a Jaaskelainen free kick, but he knocked over the top under pressure from the home goalkeeper.

Matt Jarvis also got in behind Mathieu Debuchy dangerously and stood up a cross for Stewart Downing, but Mapou Yanga-M'Biwa marshalled the ball behind for a goal kick with Maiga lurking.

The second period began with the home side trying to lift their side, but it also began with the Magpies failing to hit the target, as Davide Santon advanced from left back on 55 minutes, but sent his cross-shot comfortably over the top.

Four minutes later, Kevin Nolan had a great chance to notch against his old club - just as he did at St James' Park last year, but did not get his header right from a wickedly inswinging Stewart Downing cross and the ball flew wide.

As the game wore on, it became increasingly likely that just one moment of magic would settle it, and it nearly came from Joe Cole six minutes from time as he wrapped his foot around the ball to fire goalwards following a lay-off from sub Ravel Morrison, but could not get quite enough curl on his effort.

At the other end, Sammy Ameobi's cross sailed over Jaaskelainen and struck the far post in stoppage time, but there was no way through as the Hammers made their point.